The 11th-year veteran was among the several Chargers players Tuesday to express opposition to the owners' vote. The NFL Players Association will have its voice, releasing a statement to that effect, ensuring that “any change in working conditions is a collectively-bargained issue.”​

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Jammer was asked if he'd wear the pads.​

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He flatly said “no” with a laugh.​

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“It's dumb,” Jammer said. “Ridiculous to me. I don't think anybody should be required to wear (them). I don't get hit, so I don't need to worry about pads.​

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Offensive players should wear them because we hit them, but I don't think it should be mandatory.​

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“You play this game because you want to play this game, and the risks you take are the risks you take. If you don't want to wear hip pads, knee pads or thigh pads, you shouldn't have to. It should be a choice.”​

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Most Chargers players said they haven't worn knee or thigh pads since college.​

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That includes Jarret Johnson.​

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The outside linebacker, entering his 10th season, echoed Jammer's concern while not going so far as to say he'd take a hypothetical fine for it. Johnson said he'll wear the "smallest pads possible" instead, also calling the owner-approved change “ridiculous.”​

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“It's a bunch of guys who never played football before,” Johnson said. “You hear it all the time. They're saying, 'Why do players always complain about player safety if they're not going to wear thigh pads?' Well, thigh bruises and knee bruises aren't ending careers.​

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“The repetitive amount of hits we take, day in and day out — this, to me, is a PR stunt … If you get hit in the legs, you're doing something wrong. You're either getting cut or standing there. Usually, when guys are aggressive and they're hitting back, the legs aren't usually getting hit.”​

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The player response, if nothing else, reveals a stigma about adding pads. More pads mean more weight. More weight means less speed.​

Nike's padding is expected to be less bulky than what football players are required to wear in high school and college. But until players see it for themselves, it's safe to call them skeptical.​

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Wide receiver Robert Meachem likely won't have to adjust to new pad requirements. He already wears thin knee and thigh pads.​

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Still, he's not on board.​

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"You really don't want to wear them because you want to be as light and quick as possible," Meachem said. "I hope they don't do it at all. You're taking away from the game. Fans come to see us. When we don't feel comfortable playing, you're not going to be able to perform at your best and give the fans what they want to see."​

Sorry for the multipost, but something that's being pushed down by the largely meaningless "Pads" news is the changing of the rules for IR and the extension to week 8 of the tradeline, which are fairly significant developments. By week 8, a lot of teams are already eliminated, and might be inclined to trade veterans for younger players/picks, whereas by week 6 everyone is still "in it".

But since Nike is making them, they're sure to look cool....... like those Duck uniforms.

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Having used every single piece of my Umpire equipment, I could care less about looks as long as it works. And football players need knee and thigh pads because? I have had to be the “fashion police” numerous times, if someone looks different out on the field, they are not allowed on the field uniform wise. If a player doesn’t want to wear a mandatory pad, don’t let them on the field.

Having used every single piece of my Umpire equipment, I could care less about looks as long as it works. And football players need knee and thigh pads because? I have had to be the “fashion police” numerous times, if someone looks different out on the field, they are not allowed on the field uniform wise. If a player doesn’t want to wear a mandatory pad, don’t let them on the field.

At 5:48 this morning a Vanpool Van a semi and two other cars got tangled up on the 15 south. I work with 3 people that were in that van. All three survived, one has a broken neck, a broken pelvis and two broken legs and the rescue people had to use the jaws of life to get him out. If it was meant as a joke, I didn’t see it.

At 5:48 this morning a Vanpool Van a semi and two other cars got tangled up on the 15 south. I work with 3 people that were in that van. All three survived, one has a broken neck, a broken pelvis and two broken legs and the rescue people had to use the jaws of life to get him out. If it was meant as a joke, I didn’t see it.

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I have no idea what you'e talking about...... you lost me.

I was referring to my post about Nike making the pads look "cool"...... don't know what prompted your response.

Seems like an attempt by the NFL to "show" that they are trying to make the game safer. Quite a few concussions are caused by a player going to the ground getting nailed in the head by another players knee or thigh (etc...) so the solution? Put pads on those places.

Considering the lawsuits the league is facing from former players the moves make sense. If they do nothing, does it not help push the door open for more legal actions against them? If they can convince a Judge that they are doing what they can to make a dangerous sport as safe as possible, will that help shut said door?

While I believe available steps to protect players should be taken, at some point players (future, current and past) need to accept that they made a choice to play a dangerous sport as a career.

Does it suck when that choice leads to long-term health issues? Definitely, and I absolutely empathize with the men who find themselves in such situations. That said, post-NFL player health issues are something the league and the players association should be working on TOGETHER to manage, instead of fighting one another in courtrooms and the press.